Aaron Nugua

Transformative Facial Clay

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:55:00 +0000

It’s green tea infusion and earthy aroma make the Transformative Facial Clay by Suki a wonderful addition to your regular regimen. If you have never tried a clay mask, try this one! What is really appreciable about this product is its simplicity. The texture is smooth and, because the consistency is very thin, a few drops go a long way. Don’t be fooled by the term “clay.” The Transformative Facial Clay is not heavy, or sticky, and it’s easy to wash away. It’s cool going on and dries fast, but retains a nice flexibility. This product can easily be used anytime without the hassle of other facial “clays” or “mud.”

Suki has made a natural product that is also perfect for those who have been turned off by the extra work of applying and removing other abrasive, sticky or clumpy products. There is no irritation because the product just doesn’t contain any irritants. Suki's Transformative Facial Clay is efficient and has a top-line quality.

Written by: Aaron Nugua, March 2nd 2007

Turning the Tide: Challenging the Right on Campus

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:55:00 +0000

By Anuradha Mittal, Felicia Gustin

The Institute for Democratic Education and Culture/Speak Out

Turning the Tide: Challenging the Right on Campus includes an inspirational foreword by Howard Zinn. Informative is an understatement; this analysis provides a detailed account of right-wing and extremist vindictiveness on college campuses. This 40-page booklet includes a brief historical overview of the conflict between proponents of religious instruction and progressives who value free thinking in higher education. Mittal and Gustin incorporate newsworthy reports on “conservative youth-focusing organizations” with a special report on the amount of money they spend and the activities they engage in.

Published by the Institute for Democratic Education and Culture (IDEC)/Speak Out and the Oakland Institute, this analysis serves as a perfect reference for all “watch dogs” interested in having on hand pertinent information about right-wing and corporate agendas that have begun to affect progressive students of colleges and universities nationwide. The booklet is separated into two distinct parts. The first section is a report of the conflict and the second section includes a discussion regarding “groundwork” and a proposal for future initiatives. A nice supplement to this work would be a practical guide to appropriate outreach organizations. Otherwise, this is a great introduction to the problems facing students today.

Turning the Tide is a call for action as well as a tool that can be used to inform and reenergize any activist. The easy to read format encourages quick review during free time and painless future referencing. The end of the report incorporates discussion points regarding long-term strategies for progressive activists to support student leaders, mentors, and faculty members who struggle to preserve liberal education. This is an essential read and a viable reference work; its succinctness makes it accessible to a wide audience.

Written by: Aaron Nugua, March 1st 2007

Revenge of the Killer Slits EP

admin — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 13:30:00 +0000

The Slits

s.a.f. Records

The Slits are back! If you are not familiar with this band, the most recent release, _Revenge of the Killer Slits _EP, is a good introduction. For those who relished their punk and dub fusion back in the '70s, this sample of three songs is enough to get you back in the mood. Reggae calls are answered by techno-alternative dance beats in the first track, “Slits Tradition.” The beat is basic and backs up nicely the chanted lyrics and bits of spoken word. The Slits even find room for a couple of quick jazzy riffs. The second track, “Number One Enemy,” is Joan Jett-ish, including a snotty solo with predictable back up singing; this is easy listening for fans of soft-core punk. The third track, and my personal favorite, “Kill Them With Love,” is as close to what I would call an R&B torch song as you can get. The track finishes, with vocals that are intriguingly similar to the caterwauling of Diamanda Galas, an end that is both fun and pleasantly ludic. This album is fun, refreshingly eclectic, and packed with sweet “revenge.”

Written by: Aaron Nugua, February 24th 2007

Girls Speak Out: Finding Your True Self

admin — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:38:00 +0000

By Andrea Johnson

Celestial Arts

Founded in 1994, The Girls Speak Out Foundation for girls ages 9-15 is the brain-child of Andrea Johnson and Gloria Steinem. The second edition of Girls Speak Out: Finding Your True Self incorporates the interactive exercises, vignettes, poems, short stories, etc. brought to you by budding feminists who have participated in the program. The scheme of this program and of this book is two fold. One objective is to amass stories of soul searching of a group of girls, while the other is to inspire more girls to magnify their struggles and triumphs in a heteronormative world. In this book, girls "speak out" about topics that are traditionally "reserved" for adulthood. These young women exercise their girl power as they challenge male supremacy and the latent subjugation of women instituted by marriage, motherhood, religion, and education. The strength of this text is the juxtaposition of its language and subject material—accessible to the targeted age group but sophisticated and readable enough for women of all ages. This book may not stand out on the shelves without purposeful exhibition, but hopefully, Girls Speak Out will make its way into the hands of young girls around the globe with the help of veteran feminists. The content of the book is piecemeal and Johnson and Steinem could stand to use a work like Our Bodies Our Selves as a paradigmatic design for subsequent editions. In the forward and introduction, Steinem and Johnson allude to their hopes that mothers, "other mothers," aunts, and older sisters will pick up this book, review it and pass it along. Girls Speak Out covers a broad range of topics from women’s global history to maintenance of self-esteem within sexist social systems. Johnson provides a useful annotated bibliography at the back of the book. This list incorporates a culturally diverse set of authors that some young women may never encounter in public school. Look out Girl Scout leaders of America! The young women of The Girls Speak Out Foundation have seized the torch of feminism from Johnson and Steinem. Peddling cookies is not on the agenda.

Written by: Aaron Nugua, December 20th 2006

Scenes from the Silent Revolution

admin — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:14:00 +0000

Directed by Jess Rowland

Pax Recordings

Jess Rowland could not have created the tour de force, Scenes From The Silent Revolution, at a better time than during our current epoch, as we find that we have been swimming in the muck of corporate culture for decades. Rowland punctures the shrink-wrap that corporations have fixed around ourdaily lives with a CD and DVD that leaves you feeling raw and unsettled. The DVD includes three scenes: “Ashcroft vs. The Space Librarians,” “The Barbie Explosion” and “McDonaldland is Changing.” The soundtrack is a thing of genius. The background noise that compliments the visual material includes drum beats and radio samples, as well as music by John Ashcroft, Barbie and the Rockers and the kids who love Ronald McDonald. The themes are: American nationalism, American vanity, the extraterrestrial and theparadox of desired homogeneity versus globalization. The ten tracks are short but hypnotic and can easily be slipped into the background of any dinner party. John Ashcroft’s song returns during the last track to implant the “Mighty Eagle Song” in your brain—it will surely nest there for days. Rowland should supply a disclaimer regarding the persistent nature of this tune. Then again, that’s the point! A subliminal message is unnecessary. If you buy anything, buy this compilation.

Written by: Aaron Nugua, December 12th 2006